What makes "Moana" different is the complete absence of romance
in the plot. It frees up the protagonist for daring
adventures across the ocean, yes, but it also
upends the expectation that marriage is the only fate for
all female characters. Marriage isn't the only option for
women in real life — in fact, marriage rates in the US have
been steadily
declining for decades. So why should marriage be the only
option for women in movies?

It's about time we got Disney princesses who better reflect
diverse female experiences. Apparently the panel audience at
Comic-Con agrees: When Musker announced the romance-free plot,
the whole room burst into applause, according to a vlogger who
was in attendance.